Bill > LD128

This bill amends Maine's site location of development laws to expand the definition of "subdivision" and modify how certain residential developments are regulated. Specifically, the bill changes the existing law to allow lots with detached residential housing designed to accommodate up to 4 families, including accessory dwelling units, to be treated differently under environmental permitting regulations. The modifications reduce the threshold for how many lots can be developed before triggering additional environmental review, effectively making it easier to create multifamily housing developments. The bill also clarifies that rules made by the Board of Environmental Protection to permit certain activities can be considered routine technical rules, which typically means they are less complex and can be implemented more quickly. These changes aim to support housing development by streamlining the permitting process for smaller multifamily housing projects, potentially making it easier and less expensive to create housing with up to four units on a single lot. The bill reflects a broader effort to address housing availability by reducing regulatory barriers to constructing more dense residential developments.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=128&snum=132